Lake Murray is one of the most popular recreational and residential lakes in South Carolina. If you have grown up in the midlands of South Carolina, you have likely spent a hot summer afternoon cooling off in the waters of Lake Murray. Lake Murray is nearly 200 ft deep which allows it to stay cool even during the hottest summer days.
During the winter months, Lake Murray gets far too cold to swim in comfortably. Every spring, South Carolinians look forward to the water getting warm enough to swim. As the air temperatures slowly warm up in the spring, so does the water in Lake Murray. Many people find themselves asking: “when is the water in Lake Murray warm enough to swim in?”
In this article we will discuss when Lake Murray gets warm enough to swim in and how you can check the water temperature of Lake Murray as well.
When is it warm enough to swim in Lake Murray?
As the temperatures around South Carolina start to creep into the upper eighties, residents begin their annual scramble to find a place to cool off. Lake Murray is a popular place to take a refreshing dip when South Carolina’s blazing hot summers begin to take hold of the region.
Sometimes the air temperatures start to heat up well before the lake is warm enough to swim in comfortably. This raises a big question. When does Lake Murray get warm enough to swim in?
Typically, the popular swimming spots on Lake Murray don’t start to get busy until May. Even when temperatures climb into the eighties in March or April, the water is typically too cold to enjoy. Some people may take plunges but your tolerance for cold needs to be pretty high to just float or relax in the water. May is usually when the water temperature starts to climb out of the 60s and into the 70s. Ideally you ant the water in Lake Murray to climb above 75 degrees before it will be warm enough to swim.
How to check the water temperature of Lake Murray
Checking the water temperature of Lake Murray has never been easier. Thanks to USGS, you can easily check the temperature of the water in Lake Murray online without having to make a trip down to the waters edge with a thermometer. Here is the link to the USGS Lake Murray water temperature gauge:
(Be sure to scroll down to check the temperature at the TOP of the lake.)
USGS Lake Murray Water Temperature
Again, the if you are wondering how warm Lake Murray has to be to swim comfortably, it depends on your tolerance for cold. However, a good rule of thumb is around 75 degrees.
Comment below to share your thoughts on swimming in Lake Murray in the spring.